Safety ski binding

ABSTRACT

Safety ski binding presents a positive abutment for the toe of the ski boot together with means for preventing upward movement of the toe of the boot and cam-like means for resisting sideward movement thereof. Said last-named means resist sideward movement of the boot by spring-backed detent means having a spring return to normal operating position when the sideward thrust is removed.

11] 3,791,675 14 1 Feb. 12,1974

United States Patent 1 91 F eichtinger et a1.

[54] SAFETY SKI BNmNG FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 464,036 11/1968 Switzerland..........v....... 280/1135 T Inventors: Johann Feichtinger; Anton Feichtinger, both of Linz, Austria Gertsch AG, Zug, Switzerland June 5, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song [73] Assignee:

Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodhams, Blanchard and Flynn Appl. No.: 259,545

[57] ABSTRACT Safety ski binding presents a positive abutment for the [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 29, 1971 Austria 5606/71 toe of the ski boot together with means for preventing upward movement of the toe of the boot and cam-like means for resisting sideward movement thereof. Said last-named means resist sideward movement of the boot by spring-backed detent means having a spring return to normal operating position when the sideward thrust is removed.

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SAFETY SKI BINDING The invention relates to a safety ski binding having a boot holder which is supported in a guide on the ski for movement in the longitudinal direction.

A ski binding is known in which the boot holder is provided for movement against the force of a spring in the longitudinal direction of the ski. If for example during a fall the ski boot ought to be released, it must practically force itself out of the boot holder and this requires that the relatively great force of the spring must be overcome. In such device, if the ski boot is clamped in a slightly shifted position, a correct release cannot take place and also a return into the central position does not take place. Furthermore there exists some degree of instability due to the spring which acts onto the boot since the boot during skiing presses variably against the sole holder and thus the spring is also variably compressed.

The purpose of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and the invention is characterized in that there is provided at least one lock which holds the sole holder in the position of use and there is also provided a support for the toe of the boot sole. Such support overcomes the instability of holding by presently known devices during normal skiing. The lock in turn insures that only upon occurrence of a certain force will there occur a release and thus a shifting in longitudinal direction.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in an exemplary embodiment in the drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a ski bindmg,

FIG. 2 illustrates the same view during the release of the binding.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified embodiment. As will be apparent from the drawing, the sole holder 1 is arranged on a carrier 2 which is supported movably in a base or guide 3. The carrier 2 has a cross bone in which a locking spring 4 is supported with both ends on locking elements, here shown as locking balls 5. These locking balls 5 are urged into a locking recess 6 which is constructed as an annular groove in the guide 3. The toe 7 of the boot sole bears against a support 8. A key 10 is mounted onto the carrier 2 and is received in a slot 11 in the base 3 to prevent a relative rotation between the carrier 2 and the base 3.

If a safety release takes place, then the toe 7 of the boot sole moves to the side as shown in FIG. 2. The sole holder 1 is thereby pressed forwardly and moves in the guide 3. Through this movement the locking elements 5 disengage from the locking recess 6 against the force of the spring 4. As soon as they have completely moved out from the locking recess, that is as soon as the lock is released, the sole holder 1 can be moved still further against the relatively small force of the further spring 9. This further spring 9 is of strength only to effect an automatic return of the sole holder in unloaded condition.

Of course the invention is not limited to the illustrated exemplary embodiment. There are a number of modifications which lie within the scope of the invention. For example it would be possible as a safety against rotation to make the guide 3A (FIG. 3) and the sole holder carrier 2A of non-circular cross section. It would also be possible to provide the one illustrated safety means against rotation in a different zone or several such safety means against rotation. It is also advantageous in the illustrated construction that the mechanism is well protected against penetration of ice, snow and dirt.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A releasable toe binding of a safety ski binding for 10 releasably holding a ski boot onto a ski, comprising:

base means secured to said ski;

elongated, reciprocal carrier means mounted on said base means, the longitudinal axis along which said carrier means is reciprocal being parallel to the 15 longitudinal axis of said ski;

ski boot engaging means mounted on said carrier means for movement therewith between a boot engaging position and a boot releasing position and being adapted to engage the toe of said ski boot at a pair of laterally spaced locations thereon, said ski boot engaging means and said carrier means being reciprocal in response to a lateral movement of said toe; resilient means for lightly urging said ski boot engaging means longitudinally of said ski toward engagegage said toe of said ski boot to prevent said ski boot from moving forwardly of said ski while simultaneously permitting said lateral movement of said toe;

releasable locking means for releasably securing said carrier means to said base means to resist said lateral movement of said toe, said releasable locking means releasably holding said carrier means against reciprocation relative to said base means but releasing said securement upon the application of a sufficient lateral force by said ski boot to said ski boot engaging means to move said carrier means longitudinally of said ski to effect a movement of said ski boot engaging means to said ski boot releasing position, the return force of said resilient means being utilized solely to return said ski boot engaging means toward said ski boot engaging position.

2. A releasable ski binding according to claim I, wherein said releasable locking means comprises means defining an opening in said carrier means in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of said carrier means, means defining at least one recess in said base means aligned with and positioned at one end of said opening and at least one locking element resiliently urged into said recess.

3. A releasable ski binding according to claim 2, wherein said opening extends through said carrier means;

wherein a pair of recesses are provided which are aligned with and positioned at the ends of said opening; and

wherein a pair of locking elements are provided which are resiliently urged into said recesses.

4. A releasable ski binding according to claim 3, wherein said locking elements are balls; and

wherein a spring is positioned in said opening for resiliently urging said balls into said recesses to effect wherein said guide means includes a key mounted on said carrier and received in a slot in said base.

8. A releasable ski binding according to claim 6, wherein said guide means includes said carrier being of a noncircular cross section and said base means having a noncircular opening therein for slidably receiving said carrier therein. 

1. A releasable toe binding of a safety ski binding for releasably holding a ski boot onto a ski, comprising: base means secured to said ski; elongated, reciprocal carrier means mounted on said base means, the longitudinal axis along which said carrier means is reciprocal being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski; ski boot engaging means mounted on said carrier means for movement therewith between a boot engaging position and a boot releasing position and being adapted to engage the toe of said ski boot at a pair of laterally spaced locations thereon, said ski boot engaging means and said carrier means being reciprocal in response to a lateral movement of said toe; resilient means for lightly urging said ski boot engaging means longitudinally of said ski toward engagement with said ski boot, the return force of said resilient means being insufficient to resist said lateral movement of said toe; fixed stop means on said base means adapted to engage said toe of said ski boot to prevent said ski boot from moving forwardly of said ski while simultaneously permitting said lateral movement of said toe; releasable locking means for releasably securing said carrier means to said base means to resist said lateral movement of said toe, said releasable locking means releasably holding said carrier means against reciprocation relative to said base means but releasing said securement upon the application of a sufficient lateral force by said ski boot to said ski boot engaging means to move said carrier means longitudinally of said ski to effect a movement of said ski boot engaging means to said ski boot releasing position, the return force of said resilient means being utilized solely to return said ski boot engaging means toward said ski boot engaging position.
 2. A releasable ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said releasable locking means comprises means defining an opening in said carrier means in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of said carrier means, means defining at least one recess in said base means aligned with and positioned at one end of said opening and at least one locking element resiliently urged into said recess.
 3. A releasable ski binding according to claim 2, wherein said opening extends through said carrier means; wherein a pair of recesses are provided which are aligned with and positioned at the ends of said opening; and wherein a pair of locking elements are provided which are resiliently urged into said recesses.
 4. A releasable ski binding according to claim 3, wherein said locking elements are balls; and wherein a spring is positioned in said opening for resiliently urging said balls into said recesses to effect said releasable securement of said carrier means to said base means.
 5. A releasable ski binding according to claim 4, wherein said resilient means is a relatively weak spring.
 6. A releasable ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said carrier means includes a carrier and guide means for preventing a rotation of said carrier on said base means.
 7. A releasable ski binding according to claim 6, wherein said guide means includes a key mounted on said carrier and received in a slot in said base.
 8. A releasable ski binding according to claim 6, wherein said guide means includes said carrier being of a noncircular cross section and said base means having a noncircular opening therein for slidably receiving said carrier therein. 